Brexit and VAT status - flotilla from UK

[Graham376]

Does the EU have the equivalent of Returned Goods Relief?

My boat was originally imported into the EU from the USA, and we paid VAT initially in the UK. More recently we are based outside the EU, in the Med. Next year I may wish to return to the EU and eventually sell the boat.

AFAIK, Returning Goods Relief is for nationals of a country bringing their own goods which they exported, back in. For instance, a UK national can bring his boat back to the UK after being away for a few years but, after Brexit, it will have lost its EU status unless, perhaps, it's taken back to the EU by the EU citizen who took it out, not by a UK citizen.

 

[Quandary]

I fancy using Strangford Lough. It would be quite feasible to anchor in the middle with half the boat in the U.K. (NI) and half in Eire at the witching hour.

Might be more difficult than you imagine, perhaps in Lough Foyle or Carlingford Lough?

 

[dunedin]

Might be more difficult than you imagine, perhaps in Lough Foyle or Carlingford Lough?

Oops yes, navigational blunder - Carlingford it is. Rather grotty marina though !

 

[Tintin]

The definition of Union Goods is as follows ...



https://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-advice/boating-abroad/Pages/paperwork.aspx#4

The RYA advice having talked to HMRC is ...



https://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-advice/current-affairs/Pages/no-deal-Brexit-scenario.aspx

Therefore ...

My logic would be the following .... if the boat is in the EU on Brexit day. Ireland or Mainland Europe and it will almost certainly retain EU VAT paid status (Union Goods).

If you then need to sell the boat, and have an EU buyer, all is OK.

If you have a UK buyer, bring it back under the RTR scheme mentioned above so it gets status of UK Goods and then sell it in the UK, VAT Paid.

Exactly my interpretation from the facts and law. You put it so well.